Hoyer Statement on June Jobs Numbers

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after jobs numbers were announced for June:

“Today’s unemployment figures represent the struggles of millions of American families who are working to make ends meet through this historic recession. As President Obama has made clear, an unemployment rate of 9.5% is not acceptable. But even in the midst of these dispiriting numbers, it is clear that without the Recovery Act, which became law 130 days ago, that number would be even higher.

“Since the Recovery Act was signed into law, it has supported vital, job-creating projects across America—from $15 billion in high speed rail, smart grid, and broadband programs now open to competition to the nearly 2,000 new highway projects that are already underway. Independent economist Mark Zandi has found that, by the end of next year, the Recovery Act ‘[will leave] the unemployment rate almost 2 percentage points lower’ than it would have been with no action.

“President Obama and the Democratic Congress are focused on creating jobs and steering our economy toward a full recovery. That recovery must be widely shared and built to last, which is why we are committed to investing in clean energy jobs, outstanding education, and affordable health care for all. Today was another reminder that our troubles will not be through overnight, and that we must continue to take bold action to help families through this recession.”